Melbourne/MCVB Data on Business Events

City: Melbourne State: Victoria Country: Australia

MCVB Business Events in 05/06

Total business secured: 112 events
Number of delegates: 45,304
Number of room nights: 119,684
Direct delegate expenditure: $88 million
Economic impact total: $165 million

Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB)

During financial year 05/06 MCVB secured business events for Melbourne worth an estimated AUD 165 million. Combined, the events will bring up to 45,304 delegates to Melbourne to spend around 119,684 nights in the city’s hotels.
MCVB was awarded Best Convention Bureau 2005 (National Awards of Meetings & Events Australia).
MCVB is partners in BestCities.net, the world’s first global convention bureau alliance dedicated to the delivery of the world’s best service standards.

Business facts

Victoria predominately attracts medical, high technology, bio technology, scientific, financial services and education conventions.
Melbourne is currently ranked first in Australia for the most international association meetings in 2004 (International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Statistics Report 2004, published May 2005).
Victoria is a dominant force in Australian research, with investment in R&D three times higher than in other states.
As Australia’s biotechnology capital, Victoria is on track to be recognised as one of the world’s top five biotechnology locations by 2010.
Melbourne’s financial services sector has grown by 32% since 1992, currently boasting 90,000 personnel and 563 establishments.
Technologically savvy, Victoria’s population has one of the highest uptake rates for new technologies.

Convention Facilities

Melbourne has Australia’s highest concentration of convention facilities located in the city centre, including Australia’s largest exhibition centre and five major convention hotels. With the development of the new 5,000 seat convention centre extension to the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, scheduled for completion in 2008, Melbourne will also have Australia’s largest convention facilities.

Accommodation

Melbourne has over 20,000 accommodation rooms within a 15km radius of the CBD and 12,000 rooms in the greater city area.

Transport

Melbourne’s 24 hour/7 day airport has been consistently ranked in the top 10 world airports for quality passenger service since 1993.
Melbourne Airport is Australia’s only major airport combining domestic and international passenger services under one roof.
Melbourne Airport has 530 direct international flights per week to and from major destinations.
A compact city grid network and transport facilities allow easy access to all major hotels, meeting venues and local attractions.
Melbourne’s iconic trams travel along most of Melbourne’s major thoroughfares, extending out to about 15km into the suburbs.

People

Melbourne’s population is 3.5 million.
Melbourne is one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world, over 200 different nationalities and 150 languages are represented in the city.
Melbourne is Australia’s most liveable city and the second most liveable city in the world according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in London, 2005.
Melbourne is the number one favourite overseas city with UK residents (Guardian and Observer Travel Awards, 2004, UK).

Climate

Melbourne has a hospitable temperate climate with one of Australia’s lowest rainfalls.

Attractions

Melbourne is the only city in the world with three closed roof stadiums.
Melbourne is the host of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in 2006.
Melbourne is Australia’s centre for shopping, fashion, dining, entertainment, sports, arts and culture.
Melbourne has a year round calendar of major festivals and events.